Choosing a front door to some couldn’t be easier, have a quick search online or trundle down to the local home improvement shop and make a decision. Some people however not only find making home improvement decisions difficult but they also get zero enjoyment out of the activity.

It is common knowledge that a door says a lot about your property and that in some cases it can mean the difference between selling a house and it remaining on the market. Virtually every house needs a front or back door, but the requirements of that door frequently shift.

Below we have tried to outline what we consider to be the top 5 tips when trying to purchase a new door.

1. Pick a color, any color

Choosing a color is normally the first hurdle you are faced with when buying a door. It really is a matter of preference, and for this reason everyone seems to have an opinion as to what it should be. Colors are supposed to have characteristics unto themselves, yellow for instance is associated with joy. With all these choices the person you need to consider is yourself, will you enjoy approaching the door on a daily basis? If the answer is yes, your decision is made.

2. Maintenance

Choosing the wrong material for your door could set you back a lot of money in maintenance and repairs. Modern composite GRP coated doors may require just the occasional wipe down whilst wooden doors require regular treating and sanding. Depending on the climate of where you live may determine what material you choose, wooden doors in wet and humid conditions tend to warp if not looked after properly.

3. Think about security

Doors were invented for the sole purpose of preventing unwanted visitors, so the earliest records of doors (scenes painted on Egyptian tombs) suggest. The issue of security it seems is as important today as it was back then, perhaps even more so nowadays. Door manufacturers and the government realise this and have subsequently created a number of standards for which all new doors must try to comply with. There is a hierarchy of standards to comply with so look into which suits your needs, whichever you pick may also affect your home insurance (something to consider).

4. Think green

There has never been a time in our history when the idea of reducing carbon emissions and recycling has been so high on the public’s agenda. In the UK strict new legislations have been put on the amount of heat allowed to be lost through all new doors; the overall goal being to reduce the nations CO2 emissions. From a consumer point of view buying a well insulated door will save you money in the long run, through reduced heating/cooling costs. You will also have reduced your carbon footprint and no doubt feel good about yourself.

5. Choose the right hardware

Door hardware relates to knockers, handles, and lock types; basically anything which is added to the door at the point of manufacture or post purchase. Most people assume that hardware is purely an aesthetic choice, making your door look the way you want it. You are partly correct, but choosing the right locks and security additions could prove very useful too. Make sure you look at your hardware choices from a couple of different perspectives.

These ideas are brought to you in association with composite door manufacturers Door-Stop. Door-Stop are the first composite door manufacturer in the UK to offer double sided color matching. Meaning your new door will be the same color inside and out (most other manufacturer’s only offer a white internal finish).